five minutes ahead

USAGE SUMMARY

"five minutes ahead" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the amount of time that has passed or is yet to pass. For example, "We need to leave in five minutes ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The Murray Hill keeps five minutes ahead.

The New Yorker

The women had started at least five minutes ahead.

The New York Times

Is anyone thinking more than five minutes ahead?

The Guardian

Lights began to appear in windows of buildings five minutes ahead of time.

The New Yorker

Then Adrien set out after him, and finished five minutes ahead of him.

The New Yorker

The 52-footer was nearly five minutes ahead, on handicap, of Charles Dunstone's 52-foot Rio.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Eight minutes ahead in fact.

The Guardian - Sport

Were the cabin doors closed three minutes ahead of schedule?

The New York Times

They finished four minutes ahead of the devastating bombs.

The New York Times - Arts

Her husband moved the time four minutes ahead in 1949.

The Washington Post

This year, she finished four minutes ahead of Ejegayehu Dibaba of Ethiopia.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting deadlines or schedules, use "five minutes ahead" or similar phrases to build in a buffer and avoid being late.

Common error

Avoid using "before" when you mean "ahead of" in the context of time. "Ahead of" suggests a planned or expected time, whereas "before" is more general. For example, instead of "The meeting started five minutes before time", say "The meeting started "five minutes ahead" of schedule".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "five minutes ahead" typically functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a time difference or lead. It describes the extent to which something is in advance, either in time or position. As Ludwig confirms, this expression is standard English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

12%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "five minutes ahead" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express being earlier or in a leading position by a specific time margin. Primarily found in "News & Media", this expression is deemed correct by Ludwig. It is often used to describe schedules, races, or any situation where timing and progress are key. While alternatives exist, "five minutes ahead" provides a clear and easily understood way to communicate this specific temporal or positional advantage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the lead by five minutes

Emphasizes being in a leading position, specifies the time.

running five minutes early

Focuses on the action of being early, like a schedule.

slightly in advance

Focuses on being a little earlier, without specifying the exact time.

marginally earlier

Highlights being just a little bit ahead of time.

a bit beforehand

Emphasizes the 'before' aspect, without mentioning time.

a short time before

Highlights the short amount of time before something else.

slightly before time

A more general expression of being ahead of schedule.

a few minutes before

Indicates a non-specific small amount of time earlier.

somewhat prior

Uses a more formal tone to indicate being ahead in time.

leading by a small margin

Shifts the focus to being in a leading position, not just time.

FAQs

How can I use "five minutes ahead" in a sentence?

You can use "five minutes ahead" to indicate being early or in a leading position, such as, "The train arrived "five minutes ahead of schedule"" or "She finished the race "five minutes ahead of her rival"".

What does it mean to be "five minutes ahead"?

To be "five minutes ahead" means to be earlier or more advanced than a planned time or another person, indicating a lead or advantage.

What are some alternatives to saying "five minutes ahead"?

Some alternatives include "slightly in advance", "a bit beforehand", or "leading by a small margin", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "five minutes ahead" or "five minutes early"?

Both "five minutes ahead" and "five minutes early" are correct, but "five minutes ahead" often implies being ahead of a schedule or another person, while "five minutes early" simply means being early in general.